“Yes, my human’s not stopped making bow ties, bandanas and her new harlequin-patterned sniffle balls for another order from Summerseat Garden Centre,” Ernie replied, “and we’ve been to three very soggy markets in Manchester, Great Harwood and Frodsham.”

“I was thinking more of wider world events Ernie,” Theo explained. “We’ve had President Trump over meeting the Queen again, the D-Day commemorations, EU elections,” he went on. “Now the Prime Minister’s going too! The list is endless,” he said breathlessly.

“No, they don’t seem very happy places newspapers,” Ernie replied, “Why’s the Prime Minister not going to be the Prime Minister anymore?”

“It’s a long story Ernie,” Theo said in a subdued voice. “It’s Brexit you see. The politicians can’t stop arguing about it. So, it hasn’t been sorted out and some of them think a new Prime Minister will.”

Ernie remembered “Brexit”. He’d gone chasing after it when Theo first mentioned it. He hadn’t found it anywhere. He’d decided that time he wasn’t going to look again – and certainly not in this rain.

“Oh dear, what a shame,” Ernie said sadly, “Is that what President Trump came to see the Queen about?”

“Not really.” Theo replied. “He was on a State visit, so he met the Queen,” he went on, “he visited famous places and met lots of important people….and some politicians.”

“The weather is what the weather is like over a short period of time – like today and tomorrow,” Theo explained, “whilst the climate means what happens to the weather over a long period of time. The earth’s climate has been getting warmer and many experts are worried about this. They say humans are causing the problem and have to change or it will get worse. Some people, like President Trump, don’t agree.”

“Well it isn’t getting warmer here!” Ernie said, shaking the rain off himself with a shiver.

“I just told you, that’s the weather not the climate!” Theo said impatiently.

“It all sounds very complicated,” Ernie said with a yawn, “what else did they talk about?”

“Well, I wasn’t there so I don’t know!” Theo replied chuckling “I heard President Trump said he thought Brexit was a good thing,” he continued, “that put the cat amongst the pigeons!”

Ernie’s ears pricked up when Theo mentioned cats and pigeons. He started to prowl around looking for them.

“No Ernie, they weren’t real cats and pigeons,” Theo said laughing, “it’s a saying that means President Trump’s comments caused more arguments about Brexit!”

Ernie looked disappointed. He sat back down and scratched his chin.

“With all these arguments, it doesn’t sound like a very happy visit to me” Ernie exclaimed.

“They didn’t argue all the time,” Theo explained. “They all came together to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D Day.”

“I heard about that,” Ernie said, “what was it, Theo?”

“People from many nationalities joined together to remember the bravery of their soldiers who took part in an invasion that helped end the second world war,” Theo explained.

Ernie listened carefully to Theo’s explanation. After a few moments he spoke:

“So, the people who’d argued with each other all week came together to remember when their countries forgot their differences and fought with each other to end a war?”